Living in Stephens County

We don't have to go far to be in the middle of really cool surroundings. Yes, there are locations much more dramatic. I can find really cool places to spend weekend afternoons in nearby North Carolina but most of the time Toccoa and the surrounding area suits Cocoa Joy and me just fine. TFC alums [...]

I can't remember the first circus train I saw. I was probably no more than 4 or 5-years old. I do know where I was to watch the train pass by, and it was Main Street in East Point, Georgia. When the circus came to town, schools would end classes early and Mom and Dad [...]

We showed up around noon on the Thursday before Christmas Eve to pick up two smoked turkey breasts from Cavonna Holcomb. The moment we walked through the doorway of the smoke house, we knew something very special was taking place inside. Cavonna immediately began to talk about her operation. She knows we love to photograph [...]

Christmas afternoon found me at Traveler's Rest. We were in warm weather. The temperature was in the low 70's! We said that we could have taken the kayaks out but it was Christmas Day. No one goes kayaking during Christmas, right?!! Traveler's Rest is a very important location for the state of Georgia. This stagecoach [...]

Fat Pine is one of the best fire starters known to man or woman! But I wonder if the guy who was selling this wood last Saturday knew what he had. It was pine because he tempted me into smelling it. There is no mistaking the scent and the touch and feel of pine resin. [...]

Each week on my Facebook page, I post a photo of a Stephens County cow and call it Cow Time. It's something I started doing while living in Marietta. At the time, it was my secret way of telling people in Toccoa that I was heading their way while not letting anyone in the "city" [...]